adj
Common
yearly
YEER-lee
Yearly (adj) means happening once every year. Example: “Our yearly holiday to the coast is the highlight of the summer.”
adj
1
Happening once every year.
"Our yearly holiday to the coast is the highlight of the summer."
"A yearly check-up helps the dentist spot problems early."
"Christmas is a yearly celebration."
"The company holds a yearly review of employee performance."
adv
1
Once a year; annually.
"The committee meets yearly to decide how to spend the funds."
"Do you pay your car insurance monthly or yearly?"
"Subscribers are billed yearly rather than monthly."
How to use yearly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHappening every year, or done once a year.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
yearly income
billed yearly
yearly checkup
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Word forms
- Plural
- yearlies
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Our _____ holiday to the coast is the highlight of the summer.
Etymology
From Old English ġēarlīċ, formed from "year" plus the adjective/adverb suffix "-ly."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for yearly
See all rhymes for yearly →Frequently asked questions
What does “yearly” mean?
The word “yearly” means happening once every year. In plain terms, happening every year, or done once a year.
How do you pronounce “yearly”?
“Yearly” is pronounced YEER-lee (/ˈjɪɹli/ in IPA).
How do you use “yearly” in a sentence?
Here is “yearly” used in a sentence: “The company holds a yearly review of employee performance.”
What is another word for “yearly”?
Words with a similar meaning to “yearly” include annual, per annum, perennial, annually and perennially.
What part of speech is “yearly”?
Depending on how it is used, “yearly” can be an adjective and an adverb.
Where does the word “yearly” come from?
The word “yearly” comes from Old English. From Old English ġēarlīċ, formed from "year" plus the adjective/adverb suffix "-ly.".
Is “yearly” a common word?
“Yearly” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “yearly” have?
“Yearly” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: happening once every year.
What is the difference between "yearly" and "annual"?
Both describe something that happens once a year, but "annual" is more common as an adjective before a noun ("annual report"), while "yearly" works as both an adjective and an adverb ("paid yearly"). In many contexts they are interchangeable.
What is the difference between "yearly" and "biannual"?
"Yearly" means once every year, while "biannual" usually means twice a year, though it is sometimes used to mean once every two years. Because "biannual" is ambiguous, it is often clearer to write "twice a year" or "every two years."
What is the difference between "yearly" and "biennial"?
"Yearly" means happening once each year, while "biennial" means happening once every two years. Take care not to confuse "biennial" with "biannual," which usually means twice a year.
Can "yearly" be both an adjective and an adverb?
Yes. "Yearly" works as an adjective ("a yearly checkup") and as an adverb ("we meet yearly"). This flexibility lets it describe both a noun and the timing of an action.
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